The Archers and EastEnders star Ian Pepperell, 53, dies following a long illness
Actor Ian Pepperell, best known for playing Roy Tucker in The Archers, has died at the age of 53 following a long illness, the BBC said.
The actor, who played the hotelier in the long-running BBC Radio 4 drama for 22 years, died on Friday following a long illness. During his career, he also acted in numerous stage productions and appeared in BBC soap opera EastEnders for a short stint.
Those who worked with Ian have spoken out to shared their shock and sadness over the passing of the star - while also taking time to applaud his career and achievements. The actor has been branded "brilliant" and "loved" as tributes have started to pour out for the radio show icon.
The Archers editor Jeremy Howe said: “Ian was the perfect Archers actor – he loved being part of an ensemble, relished the camaraderie and gossip of the Green Room, and had a seemingly effortlessly fine tuned vocal technique. Like all the very best radio actors he could think on his feet and change the way he played a scene in the blink of an eye.
The Archers actor Ian Pepperell has died at the age of 53 (BBC)
He starred on the iconic radio soap for 22 years (PA)“Thanks to Ian’s brilliance, he created in Roy a character who managed to face in two directions simultaneously in almost every scene he played. He captured Roy as both genial and anxious, funny and sad, easy-going and permanently stressed – a man who could hold down with ease a top job, yet who always carried with him Hamlet’s sense of failure. It all made perfect sense because of Ian’s uncanny and laser-guided ability to find humour in the emotional scenes and find pathos in the comedy that he always played so unerringly well.
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“Ian had a lot more gas in the tank and was desperate to return to Ambridge once his health permitted. It is tragic that he died in his prime, we will miss him dearly and our hearts go out to his family and friends and everyone who knew him. Ambridge loved Roy – The Archers and our millions of listeners loved Ian’s Roy Tucker.”
Fans of the Archers have been taking to social media to share their sadness over his death. One lister wrote via X/Twitter: "sorry to communicate here but just to let you know Ian Pepperell has died - very sad."
Another wrote: "Sad news. I've just heard that Roy Tucker's good friend, Ian Pepperell, died last night. It's been announced on the FB page for the pub he ran, when not running GG." And some fans have questioned what will become of Ian's character.
Some have petitioned online that he be written out of the show to have a happy future. One fan speculated: "I wonder what they will decide to do about Roy. I hope he's allowed to get a really good job, managing a country house hotel somewhere a bit nearer Birmingham and to move away to a bright future."
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